The U.S. Must Call for a Ceasefire, De-escalation, and Humanitarian Access in Gaza

We are heartbroken by the ongoing violence in Israel and Gaza. As Quakers, we deeply mourn the loss of all lives and pray for those who have lost loved ones in this war. We unequivocally condemn Hamas’ attacks and inhumane treatment of civilians and call for the release of all hostages. We also condemn the indiscriminate and violent Israeli response that has claimed the life of tens of thousands of civilians. 

Since the escalation began, the Israeli government has restricted food, fuel, and humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip. The U.N. is warning of a looming famine if urgent action is not taken. More than a million people have been internally displaced due to the fighting. There is currently no safe place in Gaza. As the bombardment and blockade persist, the humanitarian toll continues to mount.

More war and weapons won’t bring peace. In the face of growing violence, lawmakers must:

• Publicly call for an immediate end to Israel’s Rafah offensive and a permanent ceasefire to prevent further loss of life;
• Prioritize the protection of all civilians by urgently permitting humanitarian aid into Gaza, fully funding UNRWA (the U.N. agency supporting Palestinian refugees) and other aid operations, and working to secure the release of hostages;
• Prohibit the transfer of more weapons and military assistance to Israel;
• Work diplomatically to support regional de-escalation across the Middle East; and
• Urge all parties to fully respect international humanitarian law.

Urge Congress to call for an immediate ceasefire, de-escalation, and humanitarian access to prevent further civilian harm in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.